Now celebrating 11 years, the Cave Creek Thriller hosts four different distances and acts as the third race of the Fall Desert Runner Trail Series. What began as a looped course within the Cave Creek Regional Park years ago, 50K runners will have the unique opportunity to connect two regional parks in one day! Starting at the Agua Fria Trailhead near Lake Pleasant, you’ll travel along the Maricopa Trail, a short section of the Black Canyon Trail, pass through the Anthem Trailhead along a desert corridor, climb past Spear S Ranch and finally enter Cave Creek Regional Park to finish along the Go John, Quartz & Overton Trails.

NOTE: Each year 50K runners go out too fast during the first miles (it is very runnable) and end up in trouble as they begin climbing at mile 18 and the temperature heats up. Please race smart to cross our finish line with an Ultra finish!
Also, with the December date, you may need to begin your race with a headlamp.

The 24K is also be point to point. Runners will start from the Anthem Trailhead, following the same route as the 50K runners from there into the finish.

11K & 5K runners will stay entirely within Cave Creek Regional Park on hilly and pristine mountain trails.

Portions of the trail are steep, rocky, and entirely exposed to the sun with great views of the expansive Sonoran desert.